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Balance Ritual May 19th 1518
Circle of the Ancients
As you step along the path through the bushes you suddenly find yourself in
a grove, surrounded by stone pillars forming a sacred circle. Moving forward
into the circle you become aware of an incredible energy flowing gently through
you. You are overcome by a sense of peace - it feels as if, for a moment, all
is still and in perfect balance.
Off through some bushes to the west is a meditation glade and a holy glade of
worship leads through a shimmering green veil of energy to the east. Toward the
north is the Temple Treasury.
You notice that the circle contains four larger stones, at quarters, marked
with decorated stakes. In the center of the circle is a cauldron with various
items placed around it. Next to the cauldron is an Altar.
Obvious exits: south, north, west and east.
Eberline.
Amaya.
Mohtep.
Earth elemental.
Aneirin.
Taelis.
Inessa.
Torolain.
Eltrax.
Miralia.
Ecandra (sits in the grass next to altheda).
Altheda (sitting on the grass next to Ecandra).
Servant Vitara.
Dheimon.
Bryci.
Wood Sign.
Nine Merchant chef foods.
Eleven Merchant chef foods.
Nine Merchant chef foods.
Nine Merchant chef foods.
Sign.
You say, "Okay, I think we should start now."
> Altheda tells Tamerlyn her name.
Eberline looks at Eltrax.
Seikilos tells Ecandra a great deal about who he is.
You say, "Take a cookie if you haven't yet."
->Ecandra is paying attention.
Eberline looks at Wood Sign.
Ramie looks at Fire elemental cookie.
Eberline gets an earth elemental cookie from the Circle of Ancients.
Seikilos says to Ecandra, "Pleasure to meet You."
->Faldu faces the audience, his tail flicks excitedly.
> Tamerlyn gets a Fire elemental cookie from the Circle of Ancients.
Ramie looks at earth elemental cookie.
Deia looks at Ecandra.
You say, "Welcome everyone to this ritual to celebrate our world, our planet,
our goddess - Ateraan."
> Eberline looks at earth elemental cookie.
Ramie gets an earth elemental cookie from the Circle of Ancients.
->Faldu smiles at the audience.
> Tamerlyn looks at Fire elemental cookie.
You say, "This ceremony has the purpose to strengthen her and her elements. But
actually, there is no strengthening in the way that we give her
things she doesn't have. It's Ateraan that nourishes us. There is no
giving or taking, as we are part of this world, of this planet. We
are made of the elements Ateraan provides, and we have nothing to
give back than the things that come from her."
> ->Amaya settles with an arm around Aneirin, her attention focused on Faldu.
You say, "But there is one thing we really can give, and this is balance.
Balance is the essence that our world can flourish. So may this
ceremony help us to find our inner balance, to feel our connection to
Ateraan, and by this, help strengthening our world."
->Faldu pauses thoughtfully.
>
You say, "We will call all of the four elements in this ceremony, and I would
like to invite everyone to look into yourself. We all have one or
more elements we feel most connected to. For nymphs this is usually
quite obvious, but we others have one, too. My elements, for example,
are earth and water. I would like to invite everyone to listen into
yourself and get a connection to your element during the ceremony.
Maybe you want to say a short prayer, silent or loud, when we are
praying to your element. But keep also in touch with the other
elements, because this is is about balance."
> ->Deia smiles at Faldu as she listens.
->Aneirin listens quietly to Faldu, his arm around Amaya as well.
You get a Amboreen from the Backpack.
> >
->Faldu steps into the circle, facing the altar. He slowly raises a little hand
drum.
>
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
<<<<<< Faldu performs with an Amboreen >>>>>>
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Faldu raises the amboreen over his head, creating a hissing sound with the
cymbals, before he beats the leather with a strong stroke of his paw. The
surrounding trees echo the dry, dull sound and the soft clashing of the
cymbals.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
>
->Faldu bows his head to the altar in reverence for Ateraan.
> Setra arrives from the east.
{ <<<<<<< Faldu Preaches with Authority >>>>>>> }
Mother Ateraan, we have come here to this sacred circle of stones to offer you
our prayers and our spiritual energy. Let us be part of your eternal cycles.
Please take this offer, may it help to keep your balance and strengthen you.
{ <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> }
> > A sign crumples and falls apart.
->Faldu talks to the audience in a quiet voice. "Fire is the element of the
south, the element of summer. It is the symbol of life, of passion. It stands
for the choleric temperament, a lot of Trolahks and Humans are connected to it.
It represents the tenet of focus, the inner flame that guides us on our path to
serve Ateraan. May it never guide us wrong."
> > Ixa says, "Sorry something came up I need to leave."
Ixa leaves south.
That person is not in the room.
>
->Faldu turns toward the south. His gaze far in the distance, he raises his
amboreen again.
> ->Setra makes his way to stand next to the western stone quietly.
Jurgas arrives from the south.
<<<<<< Faldu plays an Amboreen >>>>>>
Faldu beats the rim of the amboreen in a sizzling staccato, sounding like the
glowing branches in a campfire.
> Jurgas pants for breath.
->Altheda prays softly, breathing slowly, allowing energy to flow through her.
->Jurgas sits in the grass.
You get a sunflower from the Pouch.
>
->Faldu holds the sunflower up into the air with bows paws. His eyes focus on
the flower, while he raises his voice.
>
{ <<<<<<< Faldu Preaches with Authority >>>>>>> }
This flower stands for fire - The element which can give us warming heat and
deadly destruction. We pray to the element of fire, may you help to keep the
balance of this world.
{ <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> }
>
->Faldu bows once again to the south, then he kneels drawn and draws an upright
triangle in the earth the ground and carefully places the flower into it.
>
Faldu drops a sunflower.
>
You say, "If you like you may speak a silent or loud prayer for the element of
fire now."
> ->Jurgas prays silently, head bowed.
->Taelis bows her head quietly.
You nod.
>
You say, "Water - it is the element of the west, of autumn. It is the element
which creates life, the element of healing and purifying. It stands
for our emotions, always in motion from moment to moment. It
represents the phlegmatic temperament, so a lot of felines might feel
connected to it. It represents the tenet of duty, it always finds its
way regardless of the obstacles in it's way. It can extinguish fire
and wash away mountains. May we be strong like the water and never
fail in our efforts."
> ->Ecandra prayers quietly with my head bowed.
->Deia's lips move in silent words.
->Altheda says in a trembling voice. I pray to the element of fire, the giver
of passion and pain, the one to bring warmth and burning, the one that purifies
and destroys. The meriad of colors that bring death as well as life.
->Faldu turns to the west. He picks the amboreen again.
>
<<<<<< Faldu plays an Amboreen >>>>>>
Faldu moves the drum in the air, creating soft swelling sounds with the
cymbals, like the waves breaking at the ocean shore.
> ->Ramie's eyes close, her lips moving silently.
You get a water lily from the Pouch.
> ->Torolain makes small gestures, speaking a single word in elven.
->Altheda smiles and bows her head, breathing slowly again, the drum allowing
her to sink deeper into herself.
->Faldu carefully holding the waterlily forming a cup with his palms.
>
>
{ <<<<<<< Faldu Preaches with Authority >>>>>>> }
This flower stands for water - the element which quenches our thirst but also
may drown us. We pray to the element of water, may you help to keep the balance
of this world.
{ <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> }
>
->Faldu bows to the west, then draws a downright rectangle to the ground and
puts the water lily inside.
> >
Faldu drops a water lily.
> ->Torolain cuts his hands to the side then lets them fall plassidly to his
side.
You say, "Again, you are invited to say a silent or loud prayer for the element
of water if you like."
> ->Jurgas prays silently, head bowed.
->Faldu folds his paws and murmurs a quiet mantra before he focuses on the
ceremony again.
> ->Dheimon murmurs, "Let water forever be fortified."
->Altheda looks at the flower reverently, as her lips move in a silent prayer.
Miralia says something in nymph.
->Ecandra closes her eyes as she sinks in prayer folding her paws accross her
lap.
->Faldu nods silently.
>
You say, "Earth is he element of the north, of winter. The foundation of our
world. It stands for our body, our strength. It let plants grow and
returns the bodies of the dead to the eternal cycles. Earth stands
for the melancholic temperament. It is the most common element for
Gnomes and Dwarfs. Earth represents the tenet of Unity. May our
community be strong and sturdy as a mountain."
> >
->Faldu faces the Jemeleon mountains to the north.
> ->Altheda says soft, indeed.
<<<<<< Faldu plays an Amboreen >>>>>>
Faldu lowers the amboreen to the ground and beats it with some heavy strokes on
the leather, like rocks tumbling down in an avalanche.
>
You get a Druid mushroom from the Pouch.
>
->Faldu presents the mushroom to the north.
> >
{ <<<<<<< Faldu Preaches with Authority >>>>>>> }
Earth is were we come from, and where our bones will rest after our death. We
pray to the element of earth, may you help to keep the balance of this world.
{ <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> }
>
->Faldu bows to the north and draws a downright triangle with a horizontal
line, placing the mushroom into it.
> ->Altheda says gently, strong steady, be the earth, forever more.
> Faldu drops a Druid mushroom.
You say, "Those who feel connected to earth may say their prayer
now."
> ->Jurgas prays silently, head bowed.
Eberline says something in centaur.
->Faldu speaks a quiet prayer in feline.
> Miralia says something in nymph.
You say, " Air is known as the element of the east, of spring. Though we cannot
see it, we need it to live. It stands for the sanguineous
temperament, it is an important element for nymphs, though most of
them are connected to another element, too. Air represents the
intellect and the tenet of knowledge. May Ateraan give us the power
to gain knowledge, and be able to transform it into
wisdom."
> ->Ramie lightly settles her hands flat in the grass, smiling and quiet.
Eberline tells you: May all our community, our family, be strong and sturdy,
and may I be that solid foundation for others.
Vitalia says something in nymph.
> ->Faldu turns to the east.
>
<<<<<< Faldu plays an Amboreen >>>>>>
Faldu raises the Amboreen in the air and shakes it softly, creating a soft
hissing sound with the cymbals, like a storm bending the forest trees.
> ->Vitalia keeps her head bowed, her wings fluttering ever so gently behind her.
You get a dandelion from the Pouch.
>
->Faldu holds the dandelion to the north, watching how its seeds are blown away
by the wind.
>
{ <<<<<<< Faldu Preaches with Authority >>>>>>> }
Air - the element which let us breathe, but also has the power to form deadly
storms. We pray to the element of air, may you help to keep the balance of this
world.
{ <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> }
>
->Faldu bows to the east and draws an upright triangle with a horizontal bar
and l down the stem of the dandelion.
>
Faldu drops a dandelion.
>
You say, "You may say your prayer now if you feel connected to air."
> ->Jurgas prays silently, head bowed.
->Naami takes a deep breath and bows her head, quietly saying a prayer for the
element of air.
->Altheda smiles at the flower that Faldu holds. She says softly, free and
wild, currents of air, carry us all, to where we are ment to be, in all things.
Vitalia says something in nymph.
->Amaya bows her head reverently as all of the elements are invoked and
honored, a silent prayer given to the Balance, concluding aloud, "Praise be to
Ateraan."
You smile at Amaya.
>
->Faldu turns toward the audience again with a solemn expression on his faith.
>
You say, "Now that you have chosen an element, may it be the one you feel most
connected to or the one you would like to know better, I would like
to ask you to put your paws or hands onto the ground. Focus for a
moment on this element. Feel your connection to the world we are born
from, which protects us and nourishes us. While everyone of us will
focus only on one element, we can bring balance by working
together."
->Altheda places her hands upon the ground, breathing slowly.
->Lowering herself carefully first to her foreknees, then letting her
hindquarters sink down, Eberline settles her considerable bulk down to the
ground.
->Inessa places a hand on the ground.
->Faldu kneels down and places his paws on the ground in silence. He closes his
eyes in silent meditation on the element of water.
> ->Ecandra places her paws on the ground breathing slowly.
->Jurgas places a paw on the ground, meditating.
->Vitalia kneels down in a fluid fashion, removing her gloves to place her
hands upon the ground.
->Eberline reaches down to press her hands flat against the ground before her.
Vitalia removes Silver gloves.
->Miralia more or less flops onto the ground, settling in before spreading her
hands through the grass and closing her eyes in focus.
Setra removes gloves.
->Deia presses her hands against the ground, as well.
->Altheda smiles, as the element of fire tingles throughout her body.
->Dheimon lets his hands ghost over the ground, not touching it, but focusing
all the same.
Eberline removes Silver gloves.
Eberline puts a Silver gloves in Backpack.
Aneirin kneels.
->Ramie returns her hands to the ground, her face tilted upward.
->Eltrax presses his hands to the ground.
->Amaya kneels down, her hands firmly pressed to the ground.
Eltrax removes gray gloves.
->Mohtep shifts a bit, her feet firmly rooted.
Amaya smiles at Mohtep.
->Setra kneels down beside the western stone, digging his finers deply into the
moist ground, smiling as a smal puddle of water forms around each of his
fingers.
->Dheimon closes his eyes and small icicles grow from his palms and root
themselves into the ground.
->Tamerlyn kneels down, hands against the ground.
->Taelis kneels down and gently places her hands flat on the ground.
->Altheda skin starts to shine and flicker, as she breathes, focusong on the
flame within her.
->Ecandra feels the flames of fire ripple over her paws.
->Faldu opens his eyes and stands up again. He faces the altar again, raising
his arms to the sky, holding the amboreen in his right paw.
{ <<<<<<< Faldu Preaches with Authority >>>>>>> }
Ateraan, we thank you for accepting our offer. We are Ateraan, and Ateraan is
us. There is no separation. There is no giving or taking. We are part of your
balance. We are part of your cycles. And the cycles will be forever. Blessed
be.
{ <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> }
> ->Torolain bows his head shortly if in proper respect.
>
<<<<<< Faldu plays an Amboreen >>>>>>
Faldu plays a drum roll ending with a loud clash on the amboreen's rim.
>
->Faldu bows his head in reverence for Ateraan.
>
> ->Faldu smiles at the audience.
>
You say, "Thank you all for joining. Ateraan bless."
> ->Altheda says reverently, still kneeling. Praise Ateraan, we are forever
intertwined with you, and we shall never be parted from you, blessed Ateraan.
Miralia says something in nymph.
Inessa says, "Thank you for sharing, it was quite lovely."
Vitalia says something in nymph.
You smile.